Our Mission
ENHANCE CHILDREN'S LIVES THROUGH BASEBALL'S POWER TO TEACH
Our Vision
EVERY CHILD SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND TOOLS TO SWING FOR THE FENCES ON AND OFF THE FIELD
Our Values
HAVE FUN
We weave joy and play into every aspect of our work.
CREATE OPPORTUNITIES
We believe every child has the capacity to succeed when given the chance.
BE BOLD
We run to where the ball will be, not where it has been.
We weave joy and play into every aspect of our work.
CREATE OPPORTUNITIES
We believe every child has the capacity to succeed when given the chance.
BE BOLD
We run to where the ball will be, not where it has been.
About Friends of Baseball
Friends of Baseball was founded in 2005 by an Oregon father, son and Board of Trustees driven by their passion to give back in the form of aid and partner resources to the community of youth baseball and softball that they love. What started out as a family foundation sponsored by the Oregon Sports Authority has grown into an independent 501c3 that is working in five key areas:
Keenan and Ben Longcor wanted to pass on the timeless bond between father, son, and baseball to generations of children in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Together, with our community partners, Friends of Baseball has provided $5.1 million in programming, scholarships, grants, and equipment since 2005 and served over 40,000 children. The Full Count after school and summer program launched in 2015, has served over 1,200 youth through a baseball-inspired curriculum that includes physical recreation, academic, and socio emotional enrichment activities. We invest donations and funding from community foundations in programming, volunteer coach training, field renovation, and gear and equipment donations and distribution to ensure no child is denied the chance to play due to financial ineligibility, social exclusion, or lack of programming.
- Baseball-inspired academic and physical education after school and summer enrichment programs through the Full Count RBI Academy
- Scholarships for youth to have access to play for local leagues and teams
- Training coaches to be positive mentors and providing them with resources
- Equipment and gear distribution
- Field safety and improvements
Keenan and Ben Longcor wanted to pass on the timeless bond between father, son, and baseball to generations of children in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Together, with our community partners, Friends of Baseball has provided $5.1 million in programming, scholarships, grants, and equipment since 2005 and served over 40,000 children. The Full Count after school and summer program launched in 2015, has served over 1,200 youth through a baseball-inspired curriculum that includes physical recreation, academic, and socio emotional enrichment activities. We invest donations and funding from community foundations in programming, volunteer coach training, field renovation, and gear and equipment donations and distribution to ensure no child is denied the chance to play due to financial ineligibility, social exclusion, or lack of programming.
How Friends of Baseball is Handling COVID-19
2020 was a challenging year for all of us due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It was no different for Friends of Baseball. Our resilient team of caring mentors and volunteers have continued to serve the youth and families in our community who have seen disproportionate impacts from this pandemic. Our team has pivoted our programming to an expanded and more robust Full Count RBI Academy offering of virtual classes and events, safe in-person distributions, and safe individualized clinics for youth following all health and safety guidelines. Our hope is that in the near future we can return to our full offering of in-person camps, clinics, and events. Until then, stay safe and we hope to see you out at the ballpark again soon!